Self-adjustable leveling instrument



1. HEDHEAD.

` Leveling Instrument. No. 22,378. Patented Dec. 21, 1858.

www@ Envy/M www? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOS. REDHEAI), OF 'OODVILLE, MISSISSIPPI.

SELF-ADJUSTABLE LEVELING INSTRUMENT.

f Specification of Letters Patent No. 22,378, dated December 21, 1858.

To all 'whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH REDHEAD, of VOOdVlIe, in the county of Vilkinson and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leveling Instruments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact desimple and cheap instrument by which lines as nearly parallel with the horizon, as their special character may require, can be runas for instance in making water courses or furrows on side hills or undulating ground, or in any other place where an approximation to a level line will serve the purpose. The necessity of such an instrument forced itself upon me, in cultivating cotton lands on side hills, where4 from the lightness of the soil, the water cannot be allowed to run down the slopes; and the furrows must be on that account carried around on nearly a plane,v or with descent enough to gently carry olf the water. For such a purpose, this instrument is very useful, though it may be used for any other purpose to which it is applicable. And the nature of my invention consists in so constructing the instrument and its staff, as that when said instrument is set upon said staff, it will immediately swing by means of a counterpoise into a level or nearly level position, without any further manipulation, than the mere placing of it thereon.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the draw-v ing.

A, represents a metallic case, made like an ordinary compass case, in which are arranged two bubbles a, b, at right angles to each other so as to indicate when the case is level. There is a cross bar c underneath the case, which can move on pins or studs d, d, firmly connected to the bottom of the case, there being spiral or other springs c, c, between the bar and case, and nuts f f, run over the screws on the ends of the studs for adjusting the cross bar to the case. This cross bar has four arms standing at right angles to each other (two only being seen in the section) and the two bubbles may be placed so that one shall lie over the line of each pair of arms of said cross bar.

A steel point i, directly under the center of the instrument, is fastened to this cross bar c and a rod a, to the lower end of which is a ball or counterpoise m, is also connected with this cross bar. The rod n is so inclined that a perpendicular line raised from the center of its ball shall pass through the steel point z' (as shown by the red line) and when this is the case the instrument sets level upon its staff B. This staff B, is stuck into the ground in an inclined position so as not to interfere with the swinging of the ball or weight m; and its top is covered with metal in which is made one or more conical recesses, into which the steel point z' may take just far enough to prevent the instrument from slipping off from its staff.

When the instrument gets out of true, by either the bending of the rod n, or otherwise it can be adjusted by means of the set screws or nuts f, f, of which there are four (two only being seen).

To use the instrument. the staff is stuck into the ground inclined as shown in the drawing-the steel point on the instrument is set in one of the recesses. and it is then let go-the gravity of the ball brings it immediately under the pivot, and this brings the case to a level position which the bubbles will indicate. Should the ball from any cause not swing into its true position to level the case, then the set screws must be used to adjust the instrument, as will be indicated by the bubbles, and it will remain perfect until again thrown out of true by some jar, or other cause. To use the instrument for leveling, a target of any kind may be set up at a distance, and for approximate work, the user may sight across the top of the flange of the case and have marked on the target, the height of the instrument above its point, and the plus or minus on the target will show the descent or ascent between the two points. For more accurate work arms or bars may be applied to the case, or even a telescope and cross-hairs.

Having thus fully described the nature and object of iny invention what I claim making a leveling instrument for ascertaintlierein as new and desire to secure by Letlng the ascent or descent of ground as set- 10 ters Patent is forth.

Combinino with the dish or case A an A w, 5 inclined rodoand ball or Weight n-so athat JOS REDHLAD' when said case is setnpon an inclined staff, Witnesses: by its steel point, the ball will swing the VVEsLEY REILY,

case into a level position, for the purpose of FELIX EMBREE. 

